Cardiovascular Center: Structural Heart and Valvular Disease Program

Structural heart disease refers to a number of conditions that may be congenital in nature or abnormalities caused by other diseases or simple wear and tear that may come as a person ages. These can include:

• Closure of pockets in the heart's upper chambers
• A hole between the top two chambers, typically atrial septal defect (ASD) or patent foramen ovale (PFO), or lower chambers, ventricular septal defect (VSD)
• Valvular heart disease, such as:
  • Aortic stenosis
  • Aortic regurgitation
  • Mitral stenosis
  • Mitral regurgitation

Many of these conditions have negative effects on a person's quality of life, and some, when left untreated, can cause heart failure and may lead to death. PFO could be one of the reasons for a stroke in a young age, particularly in women.

Specialists at the UF Health Cardiovascular Center in Jacksonville, Florida, lead the region in care for structural heart conditions with advanced diagnosis and treatment options found only at a leading academic medical center. The center is also a valuable option for second opinions concerning diagnosis and treatment options.

Symptoms of Structural Heart Disease

Some structural heart diseases have no symptoms and are found only upon examination, while many include symptoms such as:

• Heart palpitations
• Shortness of breath
• Heart murmur
• Migraine headaches
• Difficulty doing exercise or other physical activity
• Blood clots
• Swelling in the legs, feet or abdomen
• Low oxygen levels
• Transient ischemic attack (TIA), also known as a "mini-stroke"

Many of these symptoms may also be associated with other diseases and conditions, so it is important that if you are experiencing any of these, you should seek advice from your medical doctor.

Diagnosing Structural Heart Disease

The UF Health Cardiovascular Center employs a number of techniques to determine the existence and severity of structural heart disease. Tests may include:

• A complete physical exam to assess your overall health.
• An echocardiogram (echo) to obtain a detailed image of your heart.
• An electrocardiogram (EKG, ECG) to monitor the electrical activity of your heart for potential rhythm problems.
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to capture 3D images of your heart to check for structural or functional problems.
• Computed tomography (CT) to provide a detailed image of the heart and surrounding blood vessels.
• Cardiac catheterization, a minimally invasive procedure used to evaluate heart function.
• A "bubble test" to see if a saltwater solution passes between two chambers of your heart when injected into the heart.
• A chest X-ray to check your heart and lungs to help rule out other conditions that could cause similar symptoms.

Treating Structural Heart Disease

Some people have a structural heart defect and do not experience symptoms or problems. In these cases, no treatment is usually necessary. However, when structural heart disease causes problems with the function of your heart and related systems, it can lead to heart failure.

In some cases, heart conditions can be controlled with medication that can lessen symptoms associated with valvular or structural heart disease. Certain medications can help control irregular heartbeats, provide relief from discomfort associated with heart disease and help prevent blood clots.

When medication therapy is not enough, a number of advanced minimally invasive or open surgical options may be used to treat or correct heart disease conditions. Our cardiovascular specialists work as a team to determine the right procedure for each individual patient for the best outcomes possible. These may include:

• Valve repair, reconstruction or replacement, which, depending on each individual, may be done minimally invasively or through traditional open-heart procedures
• Transcatheter, also known as percutaneous, procedures, during which our experienced interventionalists use alternative methods to traditional open surgeries for high-risk and medium risk patients to seal leaks and repair mitral valves, and replace aortic valves. These procedures may include:
  • Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR)
  • MitraClip (transcatheter mitral valve repair)
  • Left atrial appendage closure

Why Choose UF Health for Treatment of Structural Heart Disease

Our doctors have been leaders in percutaneous transcatheter interventions and minimally invasive heart and chest surgery for more than two decades. Our interventional cardiologists and cardiothoracic (heart and chest) surgeons are professors and researchers in one of the nation's largest cardiothoracic training programs at the University of Florida College of Medicine – Jacksonville.

The UF Health Cardiovascular Center – Jacksonville offers more treatment options than other facilities, which in many cases means better outcomes for cardiovascular patients. Because we are part of UF Health, we are committed to staying on the leading edge of what's coming next in cardiovascular treatment and research. What's more, our surgeons and cardiologists take a team approach to assessing each individual patient so we can create a customized, effective treatment plan.

Structural Heart Disease Disease Program Locations

1. 

   UF Health Cardiology – St. Marys

   201 B Lakeshore Point
   St. Marys, GA 31558
   
   Phone:

   (912) 729-6821 Request An Appointment map
2. 

   UF Health Cardiovascular Center – Emerson

   Suite 120
   4555 Emerson Street
   Jacksonville, FL 32207
   
   Phone:

   (904) 383-1036 Request An Appointment map
3. 

   UF Health Cardiovascular Center – Jacksonville

   5th Floor, Ambulatory Care Center
   655 West 8th Street
   Jacksonville, FL 32209
   
   Phone:

   (904) 383-1011 Request An Appointment map
4. 

   UF Health Cardiovascular Center – North

   Suite 3600
   15255 Max Leggett Parkway
   Jacksonville, FL 32218
   
   Phone:

   (904) 383-1000 Request An Appointment map